Guest Column: Teaching is demanding, sometimes perilous

I remember when school was fun. Of course, you're reading a column by a guy whose favorite subjects in school were recess, P.E. and lunch.

But thanks to an all-loving God, I turned out all right, although there are those who would debate that. I have no idea what has happened between then and now.

Maybe it was a simpler time when I was growing up. Or maybe the same things went on, but we just didn't hear about them. In today's world, mass communication has a whole new meaning. Translation: instant news and usually bad.

Monitoring the complaints of local teachers since school started this year, I cannot believe some of the incidents. In my day, we would have never thought of threatening a teacher for fear of repercussion both at school and home. Now smart-aleck comments have morphed into a new level. In some cases, physical contact of a teacher has taken place.

I left teaching many years ago to pursue a career in law, which means advising people how to stay out of trouble, or alternatively trying to solve their problems once they have already gotten into trouble. It's kind of like teaching, except in a controlled environment.

Judges and bailiffs take care of that.

Teaching is the most demanding of professions, and I know many teachers who could be lawyers, but not many lawyers who could be teachers.

The difference is the environment in which they work. One is controlled, the other, at times, chaotic.

But when teaching becomes too chaotic, when simple, swift consequences do not follow unruly behavior, teachers are left exhausted and frustrated and students move closer to the criminal justice system.

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Guest Column: Teaching is demanding, sometimes perilous

I remember when school was fun. Of course, you're reading a column by a guy whose favorite subjects in school were recess, P.E. and lunch.But thanks to an all-loving God, I turned out all right,